Posts Tagged ‘Sean Hannity’

FNC’s debutante: courtesy of the curvy couch.Fox & Friends co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck made her debut on the show–and the network– almost two weeks ago. For many F&F viewers who expected F&FW co-host and usual F&F fill-inAlisyn Camerota to take her place on the curvy couch vacated by Gretchen Carlson, it came as a shock when FNC outsider Elisabeth was named the new co-anchor with Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy. Naturally, Executive Programming VP Bill Shine had to do some ‘splaining–or, at the very least–to introduce in some detail this new View gal to loyal F&F viewers: He chose the latter.

In so doing, Elisabeth was feted regally on set by Donald Trump, Sherri Shepherd, and Sean Hannity as they all effusively praised the new FNC celeb to her co-hosts and F&F fans. Attempting to endear Elisabeth further to their audience, Steve and Brian elicited bio details from the blond beauty. And for those viewers who have not seen her in Survivor,The Look for Less (Style Network), or The View, a closer look was surely warranted.

Ergo, during the course of this her inaugural show, Elisabeth and her co-hosts provided the following personal info. The athletic lovely played point guard at Bay View Academy (East Providence) and softball at Boston College; studied studio art at BC; met hubby Tim Hasselbeck (then future NFL quarterback) there and married him in 2002 after about five years of dating; and even designed shoes for a while (for Puma). Of course, they also reminded viewers that Elisabeth had been on the aforementioned shows. (On a more “intimate” level, the mother of three revealed to those who thought that she was a natural towhead that she had dyed her hair brown as a college sophomore or junior–or, not!)

“When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Fox Report host Shepard Smith signed off Thursday from his evening show for good, sounding even more optimistic about his future at Fox News than Alan Colmes did when he left Hannity and Colmes for “greener pastures” five years ago.

Apparently making way for Megyn Kelly‘s imminent move to prime time, Shep bid adieu to his audience and announced the end of his evening show Thursday. In the final segment of Fox Report, Shep remarked, “I’ve been saying good night…for years and anchoring this newscast since 1999. But, for a while really, I’ve been well aware that most of you already know the news or much of it before we even sign on each evening.” Explicating the denouement of his Fox Report further, Shep said, “The world’s changed a lot in the last fourteen years: smartphones, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and all the rest: We get the news in real time across lots of platforms, and frankly, this concept of anchor in the box telling you what happened hasn’t change that much since the 1960’s. It’s time for something new: And, we’re gonna lead the way!”

Announcing a hiatus of unknown duration, Shep added, “So, I’m gonna go away for a bit and get my bum shoulder fixed.” Assuring his FNC fans that his departure would not be permanent, Shep declared, “When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Elaborating, he said, “From there we’ll fuse multiple platforms and bring the global resources of this amazing company including social media and digital content to the screen all at once. And, on its time, not on ours!”

Optimistically, he promised, “I’ll report whenever the news happens no matter what program is scheduled.” Shaking his head for emphasis, Shep declared, “It’s the most exciting venture of my career. My team and I are pumped. And, I hope you’ll come along for the ride.”

Concluding somewhat sentimentally, Shep remarked, “So, Fox Report‘s going away in the next few weeks. It’s been an honor and a privilege to anchor this newscast. Bigger and better is coming with Shepard Smith reporting from the Fox News Deck.”

Shep on Fox News Deck: But, will Ailes’ promise mean a real chance for Shep to go to bat and get a hit for himself and Fox News? If so, good luck, Shep: Get a hit!

According to New York Times columnist Bill Carter, the prevailing speculation is that Megyn will get her own hour and Sean Hannity will move to the 7:00 p.m. slot (replacing Fox Report with Shepard Smith) and Shep will move to an afternoon hour. However, in his Cavuto interview, Ailes himself cryptically remarked, “We have a great roster of talent: I am making a few minor changes….You have to choose well in the first place and have the guts to stay with people who can do the job. And, that’s what I try to do.”** Furthermore, he reportedly explained, “One of my jobs is to get the best audience flow between shows and that’s one of the reason[s] I’m making a few changes right now.”***

And, that very audience of Ailes in both prime-time and full-day ratings “has had a median age of 65-plus (according to the aforementioned NYT author). If the anecdotal observation that older people tend to be resistant to change is true, Ailes would do well to only “[make] a few minor changes” as he seeks to facilitate the “best audience flow” of his hyper-loyal older viewers (and tries to attract a younger demographic at the same time). Creating three new shows for Megyn, Hannity, and Shep, as the NYT suggested, seems more than a few major changes–especially, when Gretchen Carlson’s new fall show and, an imminent iteration of Fox & Friends (with new co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck) are added into the mix.

Van Susteren: “I’ve been been bucking to get an earlier hour for years….”* Apparently, her boss Roger Ailes was listening: Only five days after FNC On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren uttered those very words to her old friend Larry King on his 06/27/13 eponymous online show, Fox News issued a release which read, “[America Live anchor] Megyn Kelly will move to Fox News Channel’s (FNC) primetime lineup upon her return, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, FOX News.” However, FNC took pains to highlight the fact that Greta had been signed to a long-term contract (as well as FNC’s other prime time hosts Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity).

In King’s interview of Greta, the former CNN anchor discussed the possible personnel changes of new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker: In so doing, she referenced FNC and her long-time chief, saying, “Look at Fox News….Roger Ailes has been there the whole time I’ve been there. We haven’t had a change in eleven and half years.” Nonchalantly or not, she continued, “I’ve been bucking to get an earlier hour for years but that ain’t happening….If anyone ever left, I would put in a pitch.”

Now that Ailes has decided to change his storied FNC schedule, it seems that Greta will get her wish of an earlier hour. But, whom will she replace or with whom will she pair? If Greta replaces anyone, it will probably be Fox Report host Shepard Smith who could continue to work in his “long-term contract” as anchor of Studio B. But, if Greta were to co-host instead, a likely pairing would be with fellow conservative Sean Hannity who sorely needs fresh blood to reinvigorate his recently ratings-challenged show.

And, if Greta does vacate her 10 p.m. ET throne, it seems that Fox’s long-suffering “rising star” has finally achieved her rightful place in the FNC ether. In December of 2008, Carpe Diem warned Greta to watch out for Megyn. Six months later, the New York Times eyed Megyn as a “potential heir to Ms. Van Susteren.”

Less than four months ago, Bob went off with an “f” bomb inadvertently on Hannity. In what he deemed an off-air moment, he lambasted a conservative panelist, saying, “You don’t know what the f**k you’re talking about.” When host Sean Hannity apprised him that they were live, Bob appeared to be in a state of disbelief. Finally, coming to his senses, Bob groused that he was going to be fired after the show.

Bob was not. But, today, he pushed the envelope even further. In a segment including President Barack Obama’s purported disdain for his GOP opponent Mitt Romney (“no g**damned war hero”) as noted by Politico‘s Mike Allen, co-host Eric caustically queried, “Bob, should President Obama be taking shots at Mitt Romney’s military service when…the guy never picked up a gun, pulled the trigger of…blew anyone away? Oh, wait a minute, that’s right, he shot bin Laden, right!”*

After initially calling into question Allen’s assertion, Bob remarked, “Does he [President Obama] not like Mitt Romney?…When he started out, he said [that] he was neutral about Mitt Romney. And, frankly, so was I. I thought he was a nice guy.”

Elaborating, Bob remarked, “I’ve come to believe [that] he is a terrible, uh, a terrible–I won’t say liar because I won’t, because I don’t want to diminish myself down where Republicans [are].

Yesterday, Williams visited The View to make his “apology.” In the course of the virtual lovefest, Barbara Walters did him to task for his call for his call for a boycott of F&F and ESPN. After pointing out that ESPN (like ABC, the home of The View) was owned by Disney, she remarked, “But, you are now telling people that Fox & Friends and ESPN, other people should boycott them.” Rather than offer amends, a somewhat embittered Bocephus responded, “That’s exactly what I said!”

Later in the day, Williams appeared on FNC’s Hannity.* When co-host Sean Hannity mentioned his The View reception, Williams gushed, “Oh, it was fantastic!” Subsequently, when Hannity asked him about his departure from ESPN, he strangely failed to ask him about his call for a boycott of Fox & Friends. Perhaps, it was understandable. All in the FOX family?

As the interview began to conclude, Hannity commented, “You know what, I love football….I’m gonna miss your open.” With a glint in his eye, Williams responded, “Well, stand by for 2012. It’s a free country with lots of options and lots of choices.” Hannity replied, “So, in other words, we may not have heard the last of Hank Williams, Jr., on football?” Grinning, Williams answered, “We’ve been contacted today. The song is mine, Sean!”

Subsequently, smacking his ring forcefully on the desk, Williams continued, “Let’s talk about the poll. They had a poll…’who would you like to have on do the Monday Night [Football] 53% me!” Chuckling, Sean jested, “You don’t look as good as Faith Hill but she does Monday Night Football.” Williams replied, “No, no, no, no! But, that’s another network. But, there are other networks.” Hannity replied, “Yes, there are. Fox is one of them!” Shaking his head emphatically, Williams answered, “Uh, yeah!”

“Power Panel”: Foxes’ View! On America Live yesterday, anchor Megyn Kelly introduced the new all-woman “Power Panel” to discuss View-likeissues (rape by lying, advertising to teen mothers, and being nice in embarrassing situations). On Megyn’s panel were Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota, Fox News contributor and conservative columnist Andrea Tantaros, and frequent FNC guest and senior writer of the Daily Caller S.E. Cupp. Not only did these smart, sassy, and sexy ladies address issues oriented toward the gals, but also they exuded an irresistibly alluring pheromone for the guys, too.

Does Fox News have plans for this particular bevy of beauties? With five solo male anchors (Shepard Smith, Neil Cavuto, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity) and only two solo female hosts (Megyn Kelly and Greta van Susteren), it may well intend to transform this potent Power Panel“pilot” into an hour-long program that would foster more gender equality in FNC’s line-up. To make room for it, FNC could replace Studio B with Shepard Smith in the afternoon with the Power Panel and elevate Shepard’s standing to the other male solo anchors by transforming the Fox Report with Shepard Smith into his eponymous Shep Report.

If so, perhaps, the Power Panel might be more aptly named the Foxes’ View.

Gone: without a Trace? Not quite. As the end of the program today, co-anchor Trace Gallagher announced, “As you may have heard, this is the last day of the Live Desk….Megyn Kelly’s new show, America Live, will be starting on Monday.” Without his co-host Martha MacCallum (who was already with her new partner, Bill Hemmer, on America’s Newsroom), Trace seemed somewhat lost. Sounding more than a mite melancholy, he added, “And, of course, you can’t get rid of me. I’ll be along for big stories and breaking news. It has been a great time.”

When the author heard Trace’s farewell, he thought of another anchor who appeared to exit his show under similar circumstances, i.e., Alan Colmes. When Alan left the popular Hannity & Colmes apparently to allow Sean Hannity to have his eponymous show Hannity in the same time slot, Alan was bound for unnamed future projects: thereafter, Alan has made guest appearances on various FNC shows and has had a recurring role on the O’Reilly Factor as a debate opponent of his conservative sister-in-law Monica Crowley. If Trace is fortunate, maybe, he will find a similar position, and, possibly, even be paired regularly in some capacity with his recently frequent Live Desk guest co-host, Juliet Huddy.

In a Great American Panel segment, entitled “ACORN Exposed,” Hannity asked Beckel to defend the community activist organization in light of the recent expose by film maker James O’Keefe and his collaborator, Hannah Giles. (O’Keefe and Giles posed respectively as a pimp and prostitute seeking housing and tax advice from the organization to set up a bordello.). After defending ACORN generally, Beckel inexplicably went THERE. He pontificated, “You know what I really found interesting about that was Senator Vitter of Louisiana who went out with a whore and he sits there and starts complaining about it. He ought to shut his mouth. And he’s lucky he’s still in the United States Senate.”

Subsequently, Hannity panelist Heather Higgins, Independent Women’s Forum Chairperson, stated, “You’re desperate to be bringing Vitter into this.” In response, Beckel said, “I could bring a lot more in: I could bring in the governor of South Carolina, I could bring in Bill Clinton…. Not surprisingly, he conveniently forgot to bring himself in as well. (According to the Smoking Gun, Beckel is not unacquainted with such dalliances.)

Then, Hannity, perhaps, aware of his audience’s incredulity at Beckel’s chutzpah, pointed at Beckel and said, “I just saw you smile…I got you!” Sheepishly, Beckel replied, “Far be it from me to throw arrows at things like this.”

ACORN officials may have been taken in by twenty-year-old Hannah Jiles but Sean Hannity was rather taken with the beautiful journalism major who posed as a hooker in an ACORN sting (in collaboration with film-maker James O’Keefe). In fact, he seemed to be quite smitten with the young brunette beauty who appeared on his eponymous show.

In Hannity’s first segment, he interviewed Jiles and ran footage of her in vintage demimondaine dress (i.e., a low-cut blouse and hip-hugging micro mini). Introducing her in the following segment, Sean said, “I am rejoined by…Hannah Jiles, who played the hot prostitute.” [Italics added for emphasis.] Apparently, realizing his verbal gaffe and trying to divert attention from it, he quickly jested, “Did I call you a prostitute? I meant preforming artist [ACORN’s categorization]. I apologize for that. Excuse me!”

Jiles smiled, rolled her eyes, and replied, “Yeah.” Eagerly delving into the salacious details, a grinning Hannity queried, “By the way, you get to write off your hooker boots and condoms according to the ACORN official.” Jiles smiled, nodded her head, and facetious replied, “They’re so kind.”

Then returning to his more sober and somber state, Hannity opined, “When I heard that, that shocks the conscience: That shocks the conscience.”

America’s Newsroom co-host Megyn Kelly has not only a turgid tummy but also, apparently, an ego to match. Prime time on her mind?

Today after a Michael-Jackson-death story with former LAPD detective Mark Furman and an intervening segment, Megyn displayed an NYPD shirt and said, “Let’s just show them [viewers] what we’re doing. Mark [Furman] is still here…and his wife’s name is Kelly. And he has gotten [sic] Sean Hannity and me to sign a shirt for his wife Kelly.* What a sweet husband [Mark] you are!

Despite Megyn’s follow-up response, her first one sounded more sincere. And, pregnant with meaning. Perhaps, she deems herself more than ready to follow Sean into the prime time line-up and give birth to her own show if and when Greta van Susteren’s contract is not renewed.

Carpe Diem told you, Greta, that you better watch out! Now, the New York Times, apparently, is sounding a similar alarm. I.e., your On the Record “understudy” Megyn Kelly may be your Eve.

According to the NYT, Greta van Susteren’s contract with Fox News is completed next year. Although she regularly beats CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, she lags her more opinionated FNC brethren Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and newcomer Glenn Beck. If Greta is not retained, some have speculated that Beck might be moved from his 5:00 p.m. ET slot to Greta’s prime time one: however, three NYT sources privy to the deliberations indicate that Megyn Kelly would be the prime candidate for the position.

Not surprising. As America’s Newsroom co-anchor, Kelly has exhibited a sharp, witty, and saucy side. On the O’Reilly Factor, she has shown her ability to go head-to-head with FNC’s cable king and often best him. Finally, in her guest host appearances she has manifested that she has the personality, presence, and gravitas to successfully to rule the hour.

FNC’s Sean Hannity announced to his “Hannity & Colmes” audience that the show will return as “Hannity” on January 12, 2009. The conservative commentator said that he and his liberal co-host had had a good run and that he had few disagreements off the set. He kiddingly accused his co-host Alan Colmes of “abandoning me.” Colmes response was generally muted and mentioned his unnamed FNC projects in the works.

About three weeks ago, too, when Alan Colmes announced that he would be leaving H&C after twelve successful seasons, Hannity responded that Colmes was abandoning him. Each time that he has said it, it appeared that Colmes didn’t directly respond as if Hannity did protest too much. Even though Colmes has indicated that he initiated the change with Bill Shine, FNC’s SVP of programming, one can’t help wonder if Hannity gave him a little push.

With Hannity’s new $100 million radio contract with ABC Radio Networks and Premiere Radio Networks and recent lucrative four-year renwal with FNC, one may wonder if Hannity is readying to rival Rush and O’Reilly instead of playing second banana.

An odd farewell from and to Alan Colmes, the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity on FNC’s popular political polemics program, Hannity & Colmes. During the show, Alan mentioned with little fanfare that he had an announcement to make and Sean seemed to treat it rather lightly: However, in the final segment, Alan announced that he would be leaving the show after twelve years to continue his radio program (“Alan Colmes Show”), contribute to FNC, and to, perhaps, do occasional specials for FNC. He and Sean affirmed their on-screen, off-screen long-time friendship and traded pleasantries. And then the usual segue to Greta and it was over.

According to TVDecoder, Alan will leave at the end of the year. Fox News may be slowly learning from its mistakes. Its past pathetic partings to Fox & Friends’ E.D. Hill and F&FW’s Kiran Chetry, Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, Greg Kelly, and Ainsley Earhardt left a sour taste in its faithful fans’ mouths. Hopefully, when he leaves at the end of the year, they will give him a respectful send-off.

Adieu, Alan. You have proved yourself a vociferous and vigorous adversary to Sean. And you do so without being mean spirited. Bravo!

Ainsley Earhardt, former Fox & Friends co-host and current late evening news reader, has blossomed in her role as a correspondent for Hannity’s America. Saturday she began her four-part series on alternative forms of energy on Hannity’s show. The conservative correspondent commendably reported on the positives of the first proposed off-shore wind farm in Nantucket Sound which is much too close for the rich and famous near Martha’s Vineyard and other privileged playrounds. The sweet, shapely Southern belle has found a natural ally in Sean Hannity as she seems to earnestly cover the news without checking her values at the door.

Roger Ailes “Go-To Guy” Shepard Smith eschewed the Victorian verbiage of his more “highbrow” FNC colleagues, e.g., Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, etc., today on Studio B today. In a political panel discussing whether Hillary Clinton’s supporters were warming to Barack Obama after Hill’s speech last night, one of the panelists mentioned that yesterday PUMA leaders’ said that she still had a chance. Shep cheekily interrupted, “I have to let people know what acronyms mean: PUMA is Party Unity My Ass.”

No New York hoity-toity euphemism for the hoi polloi from that Southern Rebel.

Ever since Rupert Murdoch gave Hillary Clinton a big NY fundraiser, FNC has begun to cozy up to the former First Lady. On Fox & Friends, Steve Doocy parrots her talking points (e.g., “Why can’t he close the deal?”) and Gretchen Carlson echoes Hill’s spurious claim to the popular vote majority: Brian Kilmeade is the sole co-host who gives Barack Obama a break. Fox News has run the Rev. Jeremiah Wright sound bites ad nauseum and Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity continuously and shamelessly bash Obama.

FNC’s strategy has paid off. The once scorned network by Democratic presidential candidates has received kudos for being the fairest cable news network from PA Governor and Clinton supporter Ed Rendell and was lauded as “fair and balanced by Hillary Clinton Campaign Chair Terry McAuliffe. Furthermore, Bill O’Reilly got his much sought after Hillary Clinton interview which garnered sky-high ratings.

Is Rupert Murdoch really for Hillary? If FNC beats up the latest “candidate of hope,” maybe Obama will be so damaged that John McCain will win. To top it off, he’ll be in good stead with the Clinton machine. Crazy like a fox!

For the third straight day FNC’s Fox & Friends has covered the Miley Cyrus, a/k/a Hannah Montana, Vanity Fair brouhaha. As Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson have bemoaned the controversial pics and Brian Kilmeade has defended the fifteen-year-old sensation, F&F has run the racy pics and photo shoot vid ad infinitum. One is reminded of Bill O’Reilly’s rants and ravings about the degeneracy of pop culture while running endless loops of the risque antics of springbreakers on FNC’s O’Reilly Factor. Or even straight-laced Sean Hannity’s sermonizing as he runs similar clips on Hannity & Colmes.

Lately Bill O’Reilly, O’Reilly Factor’s host and Fox New’s night-time king, seems to be on an anti-Obama tear. He is constantly bringing up Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s comments and talking about a white backlash. E.g., his 04/07/08 show led with this purported white backlash. In his interview with Geraldine Ferraro on that program, he treated her with kid gloves and did not ask her if her Obama comment were a part of the Clinton campaign that seems to be making race an issue. Later, when he questioned the Chicago Tribune’s syndicated columnist Clarence Page, an African-American, thrice, he asked, “Do you feel sorry for her (Ferraro)?” O’Reilly and his fellow FNC star and co-host of the Hannity & Colmes, Sean Hannity, seem to be working in tandem to torpedo Barack Obama’s candidacy in the primary season, and, if that fails, in the general election. Clintonian triangulaton may yet be at work.

As Barack Obama rode high in the polls against Hillary and threatened the maverick McCain, one could hear the incestuous dual dynasties of Bushes and Clintons sharpening their swords. The first black presidential candidate with a real chance of success has been soaring with our national bird lately and threatening the two families’ control of the White House. He leads in the popular vote, the pledged delegates, and total delegates and appears poised to take JFK’ and MLK’s mantles. Now Fox News’ unlikely pair, GOP cheerleader Hannity and Clinton shill Geraldo, are slamming Obama and questioning his presidential bid because of the ramblings of Obama’s pastor. Respected NPR and FNC contributor Juan Williams, a seeming supporter of Hill, is piling on albeit in his suave, sophisticated, and mellifluous manner. On this St. Patrick’s day, Obama must beware the snakes that may threaten his bid.